Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Barbecue Recipe: Beer Can Chicken

Here's a great way to break in the grill or barbecue this season. For those of you in the warmer climates that have already been BBQing; you get to cook outdoors again and drink a beer while you do it. What could be better?

Remove neck and giblets from chicken and discard. Rinse chicken inside and out, and pat dry with paper towels. Massage chicken lightly with oil then rub inside and out with salt, pepper or dry rub. Set aside.

Open a beer can and take several gulps (make them big gulps so that the can is half full, if you accidentally drink too much, try again until you get it right). Also make sure you are using a standard size beer can, after all, your poor chicken has to straddle that thing! Place the beer can on a solid surface. Grabbing a chicken leg in each hand, fit the bird cavity over the beer can as shown in the above image. You can use a special beer can rack or just balance your bird Sumo style on the can. Transfer the Chicken Sumo Warrior to your grill and place in the center of the grate, balancing the bird on its two legs and the can like a tripod.

Cook the chicken over medium-high, indirect heat (no coals or burners on directly under the bird). If you should have any heat source directly under the bird you will likely end up with an incinerated chicken tripod, and the recipe will be renamed Fire Extinguisher Chicken. Keep the grill cover on, for approximately 1 1/4 hours or until the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F in the breast area, and 180 degrees F in the thigh, or until the thigh juice runs clear when stabbed with a sharp knife. I prefer to use a thermometer; stabbing is so violent! Remove from grill and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.